Knitting machine



Oct. 15, 1935. s z 2,017,673

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1933 1.2 fl y- 12 In 'IIIIIIIIII' I- SBYZ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1935 was I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEippuaai ilm zz gs sfifaio. 657,595 6 Claims. (01. 66-63) In thesechannels are reciprocatingly mounted; knitting needles, which are eitheroperated di- 16. rectly by means of jacks or sinkers, or/and, op-

tionally, by helpers. These jacks and helpers are provided withprojecting butts or extensions, adapted to be actuated and governed bycams or blocks, intended to operate the needles, in engage- 20, mentwith the jacks, so as to produce different forms of stitches, loops orpatterns in the knitted material.

In straight and circular knitting machines,

the needles merely reciprocate, but do not change 25 their position,relative to their respective beds.

In the links and links type, the beds are disposed in one plane and areadapted to move longitudinally relative to one another, and the needles,equipped with hooks at both ends, are

30. adapted to not only reciprocate in their respective beds, but totransfer from one bed to the other. It is quite obvious that during thebodily movement of the beds, the needles must be drawn into theirrespective beds, otherwise the needles would 35 interfere with oneanother, resulting in breakage of either the needles, or of the combportions of the bed edges, which are adjacent to one another. Theknitted material produced by the machine exerts, through its own weight,a pull upon the 40 needles, thereby causing them, if not otherwiseprevented, to project beyond the adjacent edges of the beds, which mayresult in damages similar to those stated above.

The principal objects of the present inven- 45 tion are to provide in aknitting machine means for controlling the movements of the needles, soas to prevent them from being pulled out of the bed by the weight of theknitted material or by the movement of the beds, or by the combined ac-50 tion of the weight and the bed movement, and to hold the needles intheir retracted position, unless intentionally operated by the pattern,blocks or cams, actuating the sinkers or helpers.

A further object of my invention is to provide be in combination withthe beds of a links and links type knitting machine, means, whereby thejacks or sinkers, operating the needles, are held under constanttension.

'Another object of this invention is to so arrange said sinker tensionmeans, that the sinkers are held under greatest tension when the needlesare retracted within thebed, so that their outer hooks substantiallycoincide, and are in alignment with the comb edge of their respectivebeds.

Another object of my invention is to provide similar resilient'helperengaging means in the bed of links and links type machines, when suchhelpers are employed.

A still further object of my invention is to pr vide sinkers and helpershaving resilient bodies, adapted to frictionally engage the walls of thekggooves or channels, provided for them in the Still another object ofmy invention is to so construct said resilient sinker and helperengaging means, as to assure an individual engagement of each of thesinkers or helpers, independently of all other sinkers mounted in thebed.

The foregoing and still further important objects of my invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, showing typical illustrations of a linksand links knitting machine and specific arrangements, whereby theaforesaid objects are achieved. These illustraso tions, while showingpreferred forms of my invention, are by no means intended to restrict meto the actual construction disclosed, but are intended merely toindicate some of the possible ways, whereby the desired results may beobtained. In the drawing Figure 1 illustrates a partial plan view of tworeciprocatingly mounted beds of a links and links machine, equipped withmy resilient sinker and helper engaging means.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view through a bed,taken on line 2--2 of Figure l, and showing a needle, a sinker and ahelper, all held in one of the channels of the bed.

Figure 3 is a partial plan view of a spring mem- 46 ber employed inconnection with the bed.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial plan view of a spring holding plate, as employedwith a bed.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5. a

Figure 7 is an elevation of a jack or sinker of my preferredconstruction.

Figure 8 is a bottom view thereof.

Figure .9 is an elevation of a helper, of my new construction, and

Figure 10 is a bottom view thereof.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, numerals l0 and I I denotetwo oppositely mounted beds of a links and links type machine, whichbeds are adapted to bodily move relative to one another, as indicated bydouble arrow I. Each bed is provided with a plurality of channels orgrooves 12. The thicknesses of the beds are usually reduced at l3, justsufiicient to permit the visibility and accessibility of the needles. Astill deeper recess I4 is formed adjacent to reduced portion l3, whileleaving marginal ridges l 5, which take the form of guide prongs l6,disposed between two adjacent grooves or channels l2. The row formed bythese prongs, constitutes a comb-like edge structure. The rest of thebed body is usually left at its original thickness, as indicated at I!in Figure 2.

In order to provide for the improvements in accordance with myinvention, I prefer to mill out, transversely to the direction ofchannels i2, inner recesses I8 and outer recesses l9, which formerrecesses are provided with marginal seating faces 20 and 21, while theouter recesses are equipped with seats 22. One edge of faces 20 of innerrecesses l8 extends below an undercut, indicated at 23, into whichunder-cut fits a tapered edge 24 of a holding plate 25, secured by meansof screws 26 to the recessed portion of the beds. A similar holdingplate 21 is adapted to cover outer recesses l9. Between holding plates25 and 21 and the seating faces of recesses l8 and I9, there areprovided resilient ribbons 28, which are divided by means of slots 29into individual spring strips 30, which latter are so disposed abovegrooves or channels l2 of the beds, that each individual spring strip iscaused to register with, lay over and engage its correspondingindividual channel, as clearly seen in Figure 1.

The construction of sinker or jack 3| and helper 32 is such that theirentire bodies are concealed below the upper surfaces of the beds, exceptfor their projecting butts or extensions 33 and 34, respectively, whichlatter are adapted to be engaged by cams, patterns or cam-plates, notshown, by means of which they are operated in reciprocating fashionwithin their respective channels or grooves l2. The front portion 35 ofthe sinker is somewhat elevated above the tapering portion of its body,so as to provide means for accommodating and for engaging unlatched hook36 of a needle 31. Accordingly, this elevated portion 35 is providedwith a needle hook receiving recess 38, a downwardly directed tooth 39,and a forwardly projecting extension 40, the latter equipped with ahorizontal lower surface. Tooth 39 holds hook 36 against disengagementfrom recess 38, as long as the needle operates within channel I2. Themoment, however, the needle reaches lower recessed portion M of the edgeof the bed, the needle drops and may be released from the sinker, whilebeing transferred to the opposite bed.

It is essential that during the movement of the beds, the needles areretained in the position shown in Figure 2. In the event the needlesshould project beyond the adjacent edges of the bed during suchmovement, they may catch against one another, and either bend or break,or cause the breakage of the comb, formed by projections 16, at the edgeof the bed. Spring ribbons 28, through their individual spring strips30, engage the elevated portions 35 of the sinkers and exert theirgreatest tension against the latter when the outer hooks of the needlesare flush or in alignment with the adjacent combedges of the bed. Thisfunction may be readily observed from Figure 1. The milled-out recessesl8 are primarily intended to expose elevated portion 35 of the sinkersto the influence of spring ribbons 28. If such recesses would not havebeen provided, the action of the individual spring strips 30, againstthe individual sinkers, would be impossible. For similar reasons,recesses l3 at the outer ends of the beds are provided, so as to permittensional contact of spring ribbons 28' with the exposed upper edges ofhelpers 32. By holding the sinkers under increased tension, throughindividual spring leaf 30 of ribbons 23, when the needles are held flushwith the edge of the bed, a pull exerted upon the outer hooks of theneedles by the weight of the knitted material is effectivelycounteracted, and the needles are retained within their respectivechannels and m are prevented from unintentionally moving. One of theessential requirements of knitting machines resides in the fact thatboth sinkers and helpers are retained in their respective positions,into which they are forced by the action of the cams or pattern blocks,by means of which they are operated. This is particularly necessary inmachines of this type, when some of the needles are to be held idle intheir channels during certain intervals, while some other needles arecontinued in operation. It is also essential that neither the needles,nor sinkers or helpers are moved in their beds, due to the momentumimparted to them by, and when released from the action of the cams orblocks. In order to assure their immediate stoppage of their movement,when thus released, I have so constructed the sinkers and helpers, as tocause them to frictionally engage the walls of their respective groovesor channels. This is accomplished by grinding out or otherwise reducingtheir bodies, as indicated at M and 42, respectively, so as to renderthem resilient, and to cause them to bear with one face against onewall, and with the other face against the opposite wall of the channel,in the manner indicated by arrows in Figures 8 and 10-, respectively.

It is quite obvious that this special construction of the sinker andhelper is optional and not absolutely essential, since both the sinkerand helper are held by their respective spring ribbons 28 and 28'against just such accidental, or unintentional movement. However, Iprefer to employ the resilient body construction, particularly for thesinker, the beneficial function of which becomes most important duringthe position of the sinker at either of the ends of spring leaf 33, whenthe latter does not exert a sufficient pressure against the elevatedportion 35 of the sinker. At those positions the sinker is preventedfrom moving by its own pressure against the groove walls. I

Referring particularly to the sinker construction shown in Figures 7 and8, the arrows indicated in the latter figure denote the manner in whichthe sinker is flexed. It will be observed thatthe ground-out portion 4|extends over the major portion of the sinker body, and that its orpattern cam. The function of the latter is to operate the sinker, andthereby the needle, in the bed-grooves. When the needle is to be broughtforwards into a stitch-forming position, that is to the edge of the bed,the sinker engaging the needle must be. pushed by the loc in thatdirection. During this forward push the body of the sinker is, so tospeak, compressed in the direction from the butt-end towards itsneedle-engaging end, whereby the frictional engagement between theunreduced sinker portions and the groove walls is increased.

While the sinker is temporarily retained in its pushed-out position,having been, for instance, momentarily released by the grooves or camsof the lock, the frictional engagement between the sinker and thegroove-walls continues. This fact is of particular importance duringoperating periods when elevated portion 35 is not in frictionalengagement with spring ribbon 28. During such periods, I depend entirelyupon the resiliency of the sinker and its engagement with the groovewalls,'for preventing its unintentional movement.

After reaching the edge of the bed, the needle, having formed a stitch,is drawn backwards by the sinker. This backward movement of the sinkeris caused by the operation of the lock and constitutes a pull by thelock groove upon the butt. Through this pulling operation, the sinkerbody becomes straightened or stretched, whereby the frictionalengagement between the sinker and the walls of the bed is eliminated.

From the foregoing it becomes quite evident that the forward movement ofthe sinker enhances the frictional engagement between the sinker and thegroove walls, while during its backward run the sinker is freed from thewalls of the groove. Due to these dual functions of the sinker, theneedle is prevented from freely moving in the direction towards the edgeof the bed, or at a time when the weight of the unfinished goods maycause a pull upon the needle, while during its backward motion theneedle is allowed to operate freely, whereby the machine is caused tooperate easier and at a considerable saving of power. Moreover, thetemporary release of the sinker tends to facilitate the formation of thenext new stitch by the needle, which would be impossible if the sinkerwould exert a permanent drag upon the needle.

As the lock releases the sinker, the latter reverts to its wall-engagingposition.

In production of the sinker a ribbon of steel, from which the sinkersare stamped out, is first ground out between the future butts and theneedle engaging ends, whereafter the sinkers are blanked out, finishedand hardened. Through the hardening process the sinkers assume a slightcurvature which is sumcient to produce the desired friction against thewall grooves when the sinkers are freed from the lock, to produce anincreased friction when the sinkers are pushed forward, and to eliminatefriction entirely when the sinkers are being pulled.

The sinker described above is primarily intended for the use with linksand links machines or any other knitting machines having horizontallydisposed, reciprocating beds in which it is impractical to employgravity devices for keeping the needles from pulling out of theirgrooves. However, the application of such sinker shall not be limited tothe particular use indicated, as it may be employed in connection withother types of knitting machines.

While I have shown and described specific forms of my invention, be itunderstood that changes and improvements may be made therein, and thatthe basic idea of providing individual spring leaves for sinkers andhelpers in the manner described, may be arranged in diiferent ways tothat shown in the drawing and described in the specification, and thatthe use of the sinker and helper bodies may be altered to meet variousconditions arising from different designs of links and links typemachines. It is also obvious that helpers may be omitted from suchmachines, and only sinkers used, and that consequently, the helpertension arrangement may be omitted. I therefore reserve for myself theright to make such changes and improvements as may become necessary inthe application of my invention to various types of machines, withoutdeparting from the basic principle of my invention, as set forth in theannexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a needle bed of knitting machines, a recess formed transversely tothe needle grooves of the bed, a resilient ribbon operatively held insaid recess and divided into individual spring strips, each stripadapted to engage a sinker or helper operating in the needle grooves.

2. The combination with a needle bed of a knitting machine, providedwith a plurality of needle grooves, needles, sinkers and helpersoperatively mounted in said grooves, the needle, sinker and helper ofeach groove in cooperation with one another, said bed provided withrecesses disposed transversely to said needle grooves, of resilientribbons operatively maintained in said recesses and divided intoindividual spring strips, the latter adapted to individually engage saidsinkers and helpers, and are intended to prevent them, and the needles,from unintentionally moving within the grooves, unless intentionallyoperated, said sinkers and needles adapted to frictionally engage theirrespective groove walls.

3. The combination with a needle bed'of a knitting machine, as set forthin claim 2, said sinkers having a reduced body portion, rendering themresilient.

4. Thecombination with a needle bed of a knitting machine, as set forthin claim 2, said helpers having a reduced body portion intended forrendering them resilient.

5. In a slotted needle bed of a knitting machine, knittinginstrumentalities operatively mounted in the bed slots, resilient meansdisposed transversely to the slots and over substantially the entirelength ofthe bed and divided into a series of individual, bowed,resilient elements, each of the elements adapted to individuallycooperate with one of the instrumentalities, and means provided in saidneedle bed for removably accommodating said resilient means.

6. In a slotted needle bed of a knitting machine, as setforth in claim5, said knitting instrumentalities comprising resilient, longitudinalmembers having a reduced body portion between its ends and adapted tonormally bear under tension against the walls of the bed slots, and tomove freely within the latter when subjected to a pulling action.

ANTON S'I'RELZ.

